Collapsible a-frame handle and coupling



' May 24, 1966 A. B. STAPLES, JR

COLLAPSIBLE A-FRAME HANDLE AND COUPLING Filed Jan. 27, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Arthur 8.. Singles, Jr.

INVENT R BY W ATTORNEYS Mag 24, 1966 A. B. STAPLES, JR 3,

COLLAPSIBLE A-FRAME HANDLE AND COUPLING Filed Jan. 27, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 3 Arthur Brstuples, Jr.

INVENTOR 4 BY W AT TOR N EYS May 24, 1966 A. B. STAPLES, JR 3,252,627

CULLAPSIBLE A-FRAME HANDLE AND CQUPLING' Filed Jan. 27, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 3/5 FIG 9 r" J cw ma p a I. S B r u h I r A mvsu'ron ATTORNEYS I May 24, 1966 A. a. STAPLES, JR 3,

COLLAPSIBLE A-FRAME HANDLE AND COUPLING Filed Jan. 27, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 f-Mr r t i r i r ll Arthur B. Staples, Jr.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,252,627 CGLLAPSIBLE A-FRAME HANDLE AND CGUPLING Arthur B. Staples, Jr., Beverly, Mass., assignor to Signal Manufacturing Company, Salem, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Jan. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 340,351 20 Claims. (Cl. 222-191) The present invention relates to a collapsible A-frame handle and cooperating A-frame coupling for use with a floor treating apparatus.

With the advent of the floor treating apparatus and the recent developments in home appliances of the type which are equipped to clean, scrub and wax floors and/ or clean and shampoo rugs, various packaging problems have arisen with respect to the shipping and delivery of these particular devices. In this regard, the conventional fioor treating apparatus is provided with a pivotally mounted handle for operating and directing the device over the floor or rug surface to be cleaned, Waxed, etc. Due to the substantial length of these types of handles, it is necessary to package the unit in a shipping container having a substantial length suflicient to enclose the attached handle as well as the base portion of the floor treating apparatus.

Since the handle is to be controlled by a user who is Walking, the operating controls for the floor treating. apparatus are placed in the operatmg grip or top portion of the handle member, and since the floor treating apparatus is usually equipped with a fluid receptacle, the handle assembly must necessarily be of substantial length and weight. Thus, modification of a unitary type handle affords little advantage, and there remains a need for a simply constructed and efficiently operable multisection handle which is capable of knock-down assembly for shipment in comparatively small cartons and further capable of easy and quick assembly, whereby a purchaser can remove the sections of the handle from the shipping container, and by means of a coupling easily attach the sections of the handle to one another.

Bearing in mind the foregoing, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a multi-section knockdown handle assembly which meets the aforesaid requirements, which can be shipped in conventional containers, which can be manufactured at a low cost to the manufacturer of the floor treating apparatus, and which is conveniently and efficiently assembled by the purchaser. Still further, in this general regard, it is an important object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which is capable of eihcient and easy construction so that a purchaser, even though a mechanically inexperienced housewife, can assemble the multisection handle and the coupling within a short period of time and with conventional home tools.

The apparatus provided by the present invention incorporates a multi-section knock-down A-frame handle assembly including first and second sections removably secured at adjacent ends by an A-frame coupling therebetween. The opposite end of one of the handle sections is pivotally secured to the base portion or motor housing of the floor treating apparatus, whereas the opposite end of the second handle section includes an operating grip for supporting and enclosing the controls and connection to an electric outlet for operating the ap paratus. In line with this general arrangement, the invention has certain specific objects including:

(a) The provision of a multi-section knock-down handle assembly for use with a fioor treating apparatus conforming with the preceding objects wherein the coupling for the handle sections is attractive in appearance;

3,252,527 Patented May 24, 1966 "ice (b) The provision of such an assembly wherein parts of the coupling are secured together primarily by hidden screws;

(0) The provision of such an apparatus which includes, in addition to the multi-section knock-down A-frame handle assembly and the cooperating A-frame coupling, (1) a fiuid receptacle which can be supported between one of the handle sections and the A-frame coupling, and (2) a selective discharge actuator so located as to extend from the operating grip on the upper handle section to the A-frame coupling to operate a valve lift in the fluid receptacle;

((1) The provision of an A-frame coupling which includes a pair of inter-engaging sections, each removably secured to one of the handle sections so that the purchaser of the door treating apparatus can merely remove the handle sections from the shipping container and assemble the A-frame coupling to secure the two handle sections together;

(e) The provision of a handle grip means in one of the sections of the A-frame coupling so that either that section and its associated handle section may be easily carried by the user, or so that the entire floor treating apparatus may be transported by thesame handle grip when the handle sections are removably secured to one another by the A-frame coupling;

(f) The provision of a closure means slidably secured to one of the coupling sections for locking and unlocking a fluid receptacle in position when the same is fitted within the A-frame coupling and supported on one of the handle sections; and

(g) The provision of a plurality of cooperating spaced apart apertures on one of the coupling sections and a plurality of threaded bores on the other section of the coupling for securing the same together whereby securin elements for the A-frame sections are disposed on the inside surfaces thereof so that substantially all of the fastening members are hidden or enclosed by the coupling structure itself.

With respect to the assembly and disassembly of the A-frame handle sections, still another important specific object of the present invention is to provide a floor treating apparatus which incorporates such a handle assembly in accordance with the preceding objects, but which further includes an A-frarne coupling in which the handle sections of the handle assembly are releasably secured in a plurality of peripherally closed channels having open ends thereon for accepting the insertion of the A-frame handle sections. Again, carrying this object one step further, an additional important specific object of the present invention is to provide such a coupling wherein the conventional fastening means for securing the coupling sections together are placed within the confines of the coupling sections so that the outer surfaces thereof are not marred by the appearance of any securing means.

Consistent with the above general and basic specific objects of the invention, there are certain more detailed objects hereof, including the following:

(a) The provision of an apparatus conforming with the preceding objects wherein the handle assembly is adapted to be pivotally secured to any type of conventional fioor treating apparatus which utilizes an upstanding operating handle for moving the unit about the sup porting surface;

(b) The provision of such an apparatus wherein the handle assembly is free of any complicated mechanical parts and yet relatively light in weight and sufliciently strong to withstand continued use; and

(c) The provision of an apparatus conforming with the preceding objects wherein the apparatus is durable apparent, when consideration is given to the following detailed description. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings presenting preferred and illustrative embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a floor treating apparatus incorporating a knock-down A-frame handle assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the floor treating apparatus of FIGURE 1, but showing the A-frame handle assembly in a knock-down condition;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view partially in section of .the A-frame coupling constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a rear elev-ational view of one section of the A-frame coupling shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the A-frame coupling section shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of another section of the A-frame coupling shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a rear elevational view of the A-frame coupling shown in FIGURE 3, but in assembled construction;

FIGURE 8 is a rear elevational view of a closure means used with the A-frame coupling hereof;

FIGURE 9 is a bottom plan view of the closure means shown in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a partial rear elevational view of a fluid receptacle adapted for use with the floor treating apparatus provided hereby, FIGURE 10 showing a portion of the discharge control therein;

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of the fluid receptacle shown in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional side view of the A-frame coupling and fluid receptacle in assembled construction;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional bottom view taken along the line 13-13 of FIGURE 12, FIGURE 13 showing the 4 closure means in sliding engagement with the A-frame coupling;

FIGURE 14 is a rear elevational view partially in section of the A-frame coupling and fluid receptacle in assembled construction, but with the closure means removed therefrom;

FIGURE 15 is a rear elevational view of the A-frame coupling and fluid receptacle in assembled construction, FIGURE 15 presenting the closure means in the closed position;

FIGURE 16 is a sectional side view taken along the line 1616 of FIGURE 5, FIGURE 16 showing the cord support associated with the present invention;

FIGURE 17 is a sectional side view taken along the line 17-17 of FIGURE 7, FIGURE 17 showing the discharge actuator associated with the fluid receptacle constructed in accordance with the present invention.

A machine constructed in accordance with the present invention will ultimately have an appearance similar to that shown in FIGURE 1. By referring to such figure, it will be noted that the floor treating apparatus, as generally designated by the numeral 2, has a base or floor engaging portion 4. A motor housing 6 is supported on the top surface of the base portion 4 and an A-frame handle assembly generally designated by the reference numeral 8 is pivotally secured thereto. At'the top of the A-frame handle assembly 8 an operating grip 10 is attached thereto. a

This operating grip 10 includes the operating control for actuating the motor within the motor housing 6, the electrical cord connection 12 which is connected to a common household electrical outlet (not shown), and a selectively actuatable fluid discharge control to be further described below.

The A-frame handle assembly 8 is shown in FIGURE 1 in the upright assembled position and a cooperating A- frame coupling 14 is disposed between the upper handle section 16 and the lower handle section 18 of the handle assembly.

A floor treating apparatus such as shown in FIGURE 1 is adapted to be provided with various types of floor treating implements, such as rotating horizontally disposed brushes, a plurality of rotating brushes disposed about vertical axis, or a single rotating'bru'sh disposed about a vertical axis. In any event, this type of mechine commonly utilizes a fluid of the detergent or cleaning type and/or a polishing fluid which is dispersed on the floor surface and applied thereto by the rotating brushes in the base portion of the apparatus. According- I ly, the present invention includes a fluid receptacle 20 removably supported between the diverging uprights 22 and 24 of the lower handle section 18. In other words, it has been'assumed for convenience of description that the floor treating apparatus hereof is of the type which utilizes a fluid discharge for purposes of surface treating. It is to be understood, however, thatthe machine can be used without the fluid receptacle and its correspending function. Similarly, while the base portion 4 of the floor treating apparatus 2 hereof further includes a front light housing 30, the use of a light 32 is but a preferred feature.

Turning now to the handle assembly, the upper handle section 16 of the handle assembly 8 includes the upright members 26 and 28 diverging from the operating grip 10 toward the A-frame coupling 14.

As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the A-frame coupling 14 includes a base section 34 and a mating insert section 36. The base section 34 is removably secured to the lower handle section 18 while the mating insert section 36 is removably secured to the upper handle section 16 at one end thereof. The specific means of securing the handle.

sections to the A-frame coupling will be described below. In this manner, the A-frame handle assembly 8 is provided with a knock-down construction such that the two handle sections may be shipped in a single container to the retail outlet and purchased by the consumer who will ultimately assemble the handle sections together by means of the A-frame coupling.

As seen in FIGURE 3, the base section 34 is removably secured to the lower handle section members 22 and 24 at one end thereof. The base section 34 of the A-f-rame coupling 14 includes a base plate 40 extending transversely thereof wherein the sides 41 and 43 of the base plate 40 are connected respectively to a pair of L-shaped brackets 42 and 44 in spaced apart horizontal relation and are further disposed in a downwardly and outwardly diverging position from a partial top wall 46 extending across the top of the base wall 40. The partial top wall 46 terminates inwardly at the sides 49 and 51 of the L- shaped brackets 42 and 44.

The L-shaped brackets 42 and 44 include respectively face flanges 48 and 50 extending outwardly from the base wall 40 and side flanges 52 and 54 extending at right angles to the flanges 48 and 50, respectively. The base wall 40 of the base section 34 is further provided with an opening 58 and a continuous inwardly turned flange 56 thereabout, thus providing a hand grip in the base section.

As best seen in FIGURE 12, the partial top wall 46 extends rearwardly from the base wall 40 toward the edge 47 while the forward portion thereof extends downwardly and inwardly into the flange 56 defining the top portion 62 of the handle grip 58 in the base section of the A-frame coupling. The base wall 40 below the handle grip 58 extends upwardly and inwardly to define the bottom portion 60 of the handle grip 58. The bottom and top portions of the handle grip, extend into the side wall flanges of the handle grip 58 so that the handle grip itself constitutes a continuous flange extending inwardly from the base plate 40 of the base section.

At the bottom portion of the base plate 40 of the base section 34, a pair of channel brackets 64 and 66 are secured thereto in horizontally spaced apart relation. Each of the channel brackets includes a mounting portion 68 and 70, respectively, which portions are disposed in facing relation to the base plate 40 and are secured thereto by means of the screw fasteners 72 extending through the base plate 40 and into the bracket portion 68 and 70 at each side of the base plate 40 as seen in FIGURE 5.

A pair of cord support members 74 are secured to the front face of the base wall 40, as seen in FIGURES 5, 12 and 16. These cord support members are secured to the base wall 40 by means of the screw fasteners 76 countersunk in the apertures 78 of the cord support members 74. The screw fasteners 76 extend through the base wall 40 and into the brackets 64 and 66, respectively, for securing these brackets to the base wall 40 as Well as the cord support members. In this manner, the screw fasteners 72 are disposed beneath the cord support members when the same are assembled and secured to the base wall 40 as best seen in FIGURE 5. The cord support members 74 at each side of the base wall 40 on the base section of the A-frame coupling cooperate with another cord support member (not shown) disposed on the operating grip of the handle assembly 18 for supporting and storing the electrical cord 12 when the floor treating apparatus is not in use. By simply reeving the cord about the V- grooves 80 of the cord support members it is possible to retain the electrical cord in the stored position.

The bracket 64 further includes a pair of elongated channel walls 82 and 34 disposed at a right angle to one another while the bracket 66 further includes a similar pair of elongated channel walls 86 and 83 thereon. These channel walls cooperate with the L-shaped brackets 42 and 44, respectively, on the base wall 40 to define a pair of horizontally spaced apart and peripherally closed channeis 90 and 92 on the sides of the base section of the A- frame coupling 14. By means of this peripheral closed channel construction with the open ends thereof it is possible to insert the lower handle section 18 including the upright members 24 and 22 into the closed channels 90 and 92, respectively for removably securing the same therein. By means of the rivet fasteners 94 and 96 (FIG- URE 14) extending through the elongated side wall 84 of the bracket 64, the bottom handle section member 24' is secured to the base section of the coupling. Rivet fasteners 98 and 100 extend through the side wall 83 of the bracket 66 (FIGURE 4) for removably securing the member 22 of the lower handle section to the base section of the coupling. As will be noted in the description below, these rivet fasteners are not visible to the user when the overall handle assembly is constructed for operable use.

The base wall or plate 40 is further provided with a recess portion 102 which cooperates With the frontal face 430 on the fiuid receptacle for supporting and enclosing the top portion of the fluid receptacle therein.

On the inner side of the base wall shown in FIGURE 3, and at the top portion thereof beneath the partial top wall 46, are a plurality of projections 105, 107, 109, and 111, integral with the base wall 40, which projections are provided with internally threaded bores 106, 108, 110 and 112 for engaging the securing means to be further described in connection with the mating insert sections 36 of the A-frame coupling. The bottom projections 105 and 107 are disposed below and to the sides of the handle grip 58 or the bottom flange 60 thereof. The vertical plane defined by the side flanges of the handle grip and downwardly extending therefrom is inwardly spaced from the projections and 107. In contrast thereto, the upper projections 109 and 111 are above the top flange of the handle grip 62, adjacent and below the partial top wall 46, and disposed within the area defined by a vertically disposed plane extending upwardly from the barn dle grip 58.

The mating insert section seen in FIGURE 3 and generally indicated by the reference numeral 36 includes a top plate or wall 200 extending between a guide plate 204 and a recessed support or mounting plate 206 integrally constructed therewith. A pair of diverging elongated side wall members 208 and 210 are horizontally spaced and extend longitudinally and outwardly from the guide plate 204. Integrally constructed and extending respectively at right angles from the wall members 208 and 210 are another pair of elongated wall members horizontally spaced in diverging relation and indicated by the reference numerals 212 and 214, respectively. The side wall members 208 and 212 and the side wall members 210 and 214 define a pair of partial peripherally closed and open ended channels which in cooperation with the pairs of wall members 48 and 52, 50 and 54, respectively, on the base section 34 of the A-frame coupling, cooperate to define a pair of peripherally closed channels open at the ends thereof. When the mating insert section 36 of the A-frame coupling is connected to the base section 34 as shown in FIGURES 7 and 14, the upper handle section members 26 and 218 are removably secured in the upper closed channels defined by the wall members of the base and mating insert sections previously described.

The guide plate 204 of themating insert section 36 supports a pair of vertically extending spaced apart guide brackets 216 and 218 seen in FIGURE 7. Each of the guide brackets 216 and 218 includes a guide member designated by the reference numeral 220 extending perpendicularly to the guide plate 204 and a second retaining member 222 extending parallel to the guide plate 204 and integral with the guide member 220.

The recessed support or mounting plate 206 on the front side of the mating insert section 36 includes a plu rality of apertures 224, 226, 223 and 230 therein (FIG- URE 6). These apertures are placed in alignment with the threaded bores 106, 108', 110 and 112 in the inwardly protruding projections 105, 107, 109 and 111 on the base section 40 when the mating insert section and the base section are assembled together as shown in FIGURES 7 and 12. At this time, a plurality of screw fasteners 232, 234, 236 and 238 are inserted through the spaced apertures on the mating insert section and anchored to the base section in the threaded bores therein. In this manner, a pair of contiguous channels closed about the periphery thereof and open at opposite ends thereon are spaced in horizontal diverging relation as seen in FIG- URES 7 and 14 for accepting the lower and top handle sections of the handle assembly. The member 28 of the upper handle section is removably secured in the closed channel defined by the walls 208 and 212 of the mating insert section and the walls 48 and 52 of the base section by means of the rivet fasteners 240 and 242. The member 26 of the upper handle section is secured in the opposite closed channel defined by the walls 210 and 214 on the mating insert section and the walls 50 and 54 of the base section by means of the rivet fasteners 244 and 246.

As further seen in FIGURE 12, the partial top wall 46 on the base section 34 extends over the top wall 200 of the mating insert section when the A-frame coupling is assembled. An upwardly extending lip portion 201 on the edge of the top Wall 200 is engaged by the leading edge 47 of the partial top wall 46 so that proper alignment and spacing on the A-frame sections are automatically provided by such engagement.

As will be seen in FIGURES 8 and 9, the present invention contemplates the use of a closure member 300 which slidably engages the A-frame coupling 36. As pre: viously described, a pair of horizontally spaced apart and vertically "disposed guide means 216 and 218 are integrally constructed with the mating insert section 36 on the guide plate 204 thereof. The closure means 300 is provided with a pair of horizontally spaced apart and vertically disposed notches 302 and 304 on the inner face 306. The closure means 300 has a pair of diverging side walls 308 and 310 connected at the tops thereof by the wall member 312 and along the sides thereof by a face wall 314. A pair of inclined or slanted edges are provided along the sides of the face wall 314 connecting side members 308 and 310. These slanting or inclined edges are designated by'the reference numerals 316 and 318, respectively.

Inasmuch as the inner face 306 of the closure member 300 is slotted inwardly of the ends thereof, it thereby permits some degree of resiliency for the inner portion or central part 305 of the plate 306. This resiliency in cooperation with a closure stop or abutment member 320 extending transversely across the bottom portion of the inner portion or central part 305 of the closure means 300 serves as a'limit for the vertical and sliding movement of the closure member. The stop or abutment member 320 extends across the bottom of the central portion 305 as well as outwardly therefrom in the form of a lip for engaging the bottom of the top wall 200 of' the mating insert section as best shown in FIGURE 12, in the dotted line position. By means of the resiliency of the central portion 305 the closure member may be removed from sliding engagement with the guide members 218 and 216 by merely pressing inwardly in the direction of the arrow 322 when the closure member is in the raised position. By means of this pressure on the central portion 305, the abutment or stop member 320 is disengaged from the top wall 200 of the mating insert section.

In order to more easily raise and lower the closure member 300, the same is provided with a handle 324 on the outer face 314 and at the bottom thereof. This handle is merelyan extension or lip which extends outwardly from the surface 314 and permits grasping of the same by the fingers of the operator. As shown in FIGURE 12, when the closure member 300 is in the lowermost position it is overlying the handle grip 58 on the front face or base plate 40 of the A-frame coupling base section. For purposes of pleasing appearance, the front face 314 on the closure member is provided with a recess 328 therein. It should be understood however, that any shape or appearance of the closure member would amount to a mere design choice, not affecting the operation of the closure member in any way.

As previously mentioned, the floor treating apparatus used in conjunction with the present invention, may at times be provided with a fluid receptacle or container generally designated by the reference numeral 20. As seen in FIGURE 1, the fluid receptacle 20 is supported between the upstanding members of the lower handle section 18 and extends between the A-frame coupling 14 and the base or floor engaging section 6 of the floor treating apparatus. As seen in FIGURES 10, 11 and 14, the fluid receptacle or container 20 includes a pair of recesses 402 and 404 for respectively engaging the secured portions 68 and 70 of the brackets 64 and 66 when the fluid receptacle 20 is in the assembled position shown in FIGURE 14.

By means of the engagementbetween the recess portions onthe receptacle and the brackets, it is possible to lower the closure member 300 into a position overlying the, outer face of the fluid receptacle 20 as best shown in FIGURES 12 and 15. The top face 406 of the fluid receptacle 20 supports an integrally molded fluid spout 408 which is provided with an external thread for engaging a filler cap 410 thereon. Disposed centrally on the top surface 406 of the fluid receptacle 20 is a-U-shaped handle .10 which is provided for easily removing and placing the receptacle within the handle assembly. Furthermore, when desired, the handle 412 is further used for transporting the fluid receptacle either in the filled or empty condition.

It should be further noted that a discharge actuator 414 is disposed on the fluid receptacle in alignment with the U-shaped handle 412. This discharge actuator 414 includes a button valve 418 secured to a reciprocally mounted shaft member 420 extending into the fluid receptacle 20 to a discharge valve (not shown). In order to prevent unintended discharge of the fluid from the receptacle, a guard or enclosure 422 is disposed in surrounding relation to the actuator 414 on the sides thereof. However, in order to permit attachment of the actuating control to the button valve 418, the protective enclosure 422 is terminated on the outer side of the top wall 406.

Attention is directed to FIGURE 17 showing a discharge control wire 424 having a turned or recessed end 426 onthe end thereof. This hook portion 426 is engaged 'with the button valve 418 of the actuator 414 when the fluid receptacle 20 is in the assembled position shown in FIGURE 14. The actuating wire 424 extends through a slot 428 disposed in the elongated wall 214 of the mating insert section. The control wire 424 extends upwardly through the handle member 26 of the upper handle section to the control grip 10 at the upper part of the upper handle assembly. As seen in FIGURE 7, the wire 424 is so disposed that when an actuator trigger located on the operating grip 10 is operated by the user, it will pull upwardly on the actuator 414 and the corresponding button valve 418, thereby discharging a desired amount of fluid from the receptacle 20. In this regard, it should be further noted that the particular type of actuator provided on the fluid receptacle as well'as the particular ac-' tuating control wire and its associated trigger means-could be of any conventional type. In other words, the desired embodiment disclosed in FIGURES 7 and l7 may be changed or modified by one skilled in the art 'without changing the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, with regard to the fluid receptacle 20, it should be further noted that the rear face 430 of the fluid receptacle is shaped so as to fit within the A-frame coupling and the closure member supported on the guide plate of the mating insert section readily closes over the top wall or supporting surface on the fluid receptacle when in the assembled position.

In view of the detailed description included above, the assembly of the multi-section handle and the associated A-frarne coupling will be readily understood. The fluid dispenser may or may not be used and, hence, can readily be applied or removed as described above. The purchaser of the floor treating apparatus as described herein can easily assemble the multi-section handle by merely attaching the upper handle section to the lower handle section through securement of the mating insert section to the base section of the A-frame coupling. It then merely remains for the user to easily attach the closure member to the guide plate of the insert section and he may or may not assemble the fluid receptacle therewith. It will be appreciated that there has been provided a floor treating apparatus which incorporates a multi-section knockdown handle assembly which is inexpensive to manufacture, which isof simple sturdy construction, capable of prolonged use, and which conforms to the objects stated herein.

The objects set forth at the outset of.this specification have thus been satisfied and, accordingly, what is claimed is:

1. In combination with a floor treating apparatus having a pivotally mounted handle secured thereto, the improvement comprising:

(a) said handle including at least two handle sections adapted to be coupled together to form said handle as an A-frame, and,

(b) an A-frame coupling connecting said two handle sections together as an A-frame;

(c) said coupling comprising a base section secured to one of said two handle sections independent of any connection with the other handle section and a mating insert section secured to the other of said two handle sections independent of any connection with said one handle section; and,

(6) means for removably securing said base section and said mating insert section to one another.

2. The combination defined in claim 1:

(a) wherein one of said two handle sections has one end thereof pivotally mounted on said floor treating apparatus, and the other of said two handle sections includes an operating grip forming one end thereof;

(b) wherein said operating grip forms the upper end of said A-frame and said one end of said one handle section forms the lower end of said A-frame; and,

(c) wherein said coupling is disposed intermediate the upper and lower ends of said A-frame substantially spaced from both said ends.

3. In combination with a floor treating apparatus of the type having an upstanding handle member, the improvement comprising:

(a) said handle including first and second sections adapted to form an A-frame handle;

(b) an A-frarne coupling removably securing said first and second handle sections together;

(c) said coupling comprising a base section having a handle grip integral therewith, a mating insert section secured to said base section, said mating insert section having guide means thereon, closure means slidably secured to said insert section through engagement with said guide means, and a stop member on said closure means for maintaining the same in sliding engagement with said insert section;

(d) said first handle section being secured to said base section of said coupling and said second handle section being secured to said mating insert section of said coupling thereby making said handle a knockdown assembly.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said handle grip comprises an opening in said base section and inwardly extending flange walls disposed about said opening, wherein said mating insert section has a recessed portion received about said opening, and wherein said mating insert section is removably secured to said base section by screw means disposed about said opening.

5. In combination with a floor treating apparatus having a pivotally mounted handle secured thereto, the improvement comprising:

(a) said handle including at least two handle sections adapted to be coupled together to form said handle as an A-frame;

(b) fluid receptacle means supported on said handle for supplying lluid to said floor treating apparatus;

(c) an A-frame coupling removably securing said two handle sections together as an A-frame;

(d) said coupling comprising a base section removably secured to one of said two handle sections and having a recess portion for said fluid receptacle means, and a handle grip means integral with said base section; and,

(e) said coupling further comprising a mating insert section removably secured to the other of said two handle sections;

(f) means defining a plurality of elongated channels in said A-frame coupling for engaging said sections of said handle; and,

(g) means for removably securing said base section and said mating insert section to one another.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein the improvement further comprises:

(a) closure means slidably supported onvsaid mating insert section, said closure means including a handle portion and a stop member for maintaining said closure means in engagement with said insert section;

(b) an actuator for said fluid receptacle means; and

(c) passage means in one of said elongated channels through which said actuator passes.

7. An A-frame coupling for use with an appliance handle comprising a plurality of handle sections, said coupling comprising a base section and a mating insert section, said base and insert sections having diverging side walls, said side walls defining a pair of spaced diverging closed channels for engaging the handle sections, handle grip means disposed on said base section, closure means slidably supported on said insert section opposite said handle grip means, said closure means including a handle portion and a guide portion engaging said insert section, said guide portion including a stop means for maintaining said closure means in sliding engagement with said insert section.

8. A handle coupling comprising in combination a base section having a partial top wall, a base wall, and opposite horizontally spaced side walls diverging from said top wall and extending along opposed sides of said base wall, a portion of each side wall being a peripherally closed channel and another portion of each side wall being a part of an open channel contiguous with the peripherally' closed channel portion thereof, handle grip means disposed in said base wall of said base section, a mating insert section removably secured to said base section in overlying relation to said base wall, said insert section having a top wall underlying said partial top wall of said base section, and spaced side walls diverging from said top wall on said insert section, said diverging side walls overlying said other portions of said base section side walls to close the open channels on said base section side walls under the side walls of said insert section, thereby making a peripherally closed channel means extending along each side of said coupling between the top and bottom thereof, said peripherally closed channels being open at opposite ends thereof.

9. The handle coupling defined in claim 8 further comprising guide means secured to said insert section, a closure member slidably engaging said guide means and overlying said handle grip means when in a closed position, said closure member having spaced apart notches therein for engaging said guide means and a transversely extending stop member for engaging said insert section top wall when said closure member is disposed in a fully opened position.

10. The handle coupling defined in claim 8 wherein said handle grip means comprises an opening in said base wall of said base section and inwardly extending flange walls disposed continuously around said opening substantially perpendicular to said base wall, said handle grip means disposed substantially adjacent said partial top wall permittin efiicient and convenient handling of said coupling.

11. The handle coupling defined in claim 10 further including securing means for removably attaching said mating insert section in overlying relation to said base section, said securing means comprising a plurality of bored and internally threaded projections integral with and extending inwardly from said base wall, a first pair of said projections dis osed above said handle grip means in horizontally spaced apart relation but within the area defined by a vertically disposed plane extending upwardly from said handle grip means, a second pair of said projections disposed below said handle, grip means in horizontally spaced apart relation and to the outside of the vertically disposed plane extending downwardly from said handle grip means said securing means further comprising a recessed portion integral with said mating insert section and received about said opening, said recessed portion including a first pair of horizontally spaced apart apertures disposed along the upper edge of said recessed portion, said first pair of apertures being aligned with said first pair of projections on said base wall, and a second pair of horizontally spaced apart apertures each dis-posed along opposite sides of said recessed portion and aligned with said second pair of projections on said base wall, screw fasteners extending through said apertures and maintained in said projections for releasably securing said mating insert section to said base section.

12. The handle coupling defined in claim 8 further including a pair of spaced apart cord support members fixed on the base wall of said base section below said handle grip means for engaging a cord wound thereon, first screw fastening means extending through said cord support, said peripherally closed channel portions of said base section side walls including a pair of spaced apart brackets removably secured to said base wall on the opposite side from said cord support members, each of said brackets comprising first and second elongated wall members connected to one another at a substantially right angle along one of the edges thereof, a mounting portion connected to one ofsaid wall members and having spaced apart vertically aligned threaded bores therein, said mounting portion disposed in connecting relation to said base wall, second screw fastening means extending through said base wall and secured in one of said threaded bores for maintaining said brackets in fixed position, said first screw fastening means extending through said base wall and secured in another one of said threaded bore for maintaining said cord support members and said brackets in fixed position, said second screw fastening means being disposed in underlying relation to said cord support members whereby said second screw fastening means is covered by said cord support members.

13. An A-frame coupling for use with an appliance handle, said coupling comprising a base section, a handle grip integral with said base section, opposed channel means horizontally spaced on the sides of said base section, a mating insert section removably secured to said base section in overlying relation to said handle grip, said insert section having opposed channel means in horizontally spaced alignment with said channel means on said base section, spaced guide means on said insert section, a closure member slidably engaging said guide means, and abutment means on said closure member for limiting the reciprocal movement thereof.

14. A coupling construction for use with an A-frame handle comprising in combination a base section including a handle grip integral therewith, an insert section removably secured to said base section, guide means integral with said insert section, and closure means slidably engaging said guide means for reciprocal movement with respect to said insert section, said base section and said insert section mating with each other to define therebetween a coupling housing with said grip extending therein.

15. An A-frame coupling for use with a two-section appliance handle and a cooperating fluid receptacle, said coupling comprising a base section connected to one section of said handle, said base section having a handle grip integral therewith, a mating insert section connected to the other section of said handle and removably secured to said base section, and a closure member slidably maintained on said insert section for access to said fluid receptacle, said base section and said insert section mating with each other to define a housing having opposed trapezoidal sides.

16. An A-frame coupling for use with a two-section appliance handle and a cooperating fluid receptacle, said coupling comprising a base section connected to one section of said handle, said base section having a handle grip integral therewith, a mating insert section connected to the other section of said handle and removably secured to said base section, and a closurev member slidably maintained on said insert section for access to said fluid receptacle, said base section including a recessed portion for receiving a top portion of said receptacle, said base section having a top wall overlying said insert section, said base and insert sections having horizontally spaced apart side edges extending downwardly and outwardly from the top portions thereof, said Side walls on said base and insert sections cooperating to define a pair of diverging spaced apart peripherally closed channels for engaging said sections of said handle, said channels being open at the ends thereof for engagement with said handle sections.

17. An A-frame coupling for use with a two-section appliance handle and a cooperating fluid receptacle, said coupling comprising a base'section connected to one section of said handle, said base section having a handle grip integral therewith, a mating insert section connected to the other section of said handle and removably secured to said.

base section, and a closure member slidably maintained on said insert section for access to said fluid receptacle, said insert section including a guide plate member and a recessed plate member connected along the top edges thereof by a roof wall and along the side edges thereof by a pair of side walls, said side walls extending downwardly in diverging relation from said roof wall, each of said side walls being provided with a lateral extension integral with said guide .plate member.

18. The A-frame coupling defined in claim 17 wherein one of said insert section side walls is provided with a slot therein, and wherein said guide plate member is provided with a pair of spaced apart vertically disposed guide members extending outwardly from said guide plate, said closure member engaging said guide members for sliding movement thereon.

19. In an A-frame coupling for use with a knockdown appliance handle having a top section and a bottom section, said coupling including a base section removably secured to said bottom section of said handle and a mating insert section removably secured to said top section of said handle, the improvement comprising:

(a) said base section including a handle grip means integral therewith, spaced apart diverging side walls having the bottom portions thereof defining a pair of spaced peripherally apart closed channels for engaging the bottom sect-ion of said handle and the upper portions thereof defining segments of a pair of closed channels contiguous with said closed channels at the bottom portion of said side walls;

(b) said mating insert section including a pair of diverging side walls, said insert section side walls overlying the upper portions of said base section side walls when in assembled position thereby completing the peripherally closed channels on each side thereof for engaging the top member of said handle and being contiguous with said peripherally closed channels at the bottom portion of said base section side walls.

20. The A-frame coupling defined in claim 19:

(a) wherein said insert section is provided with a guide pl-ate integral with said side walls thereon and extending therebetween, a recessed mounting plate integral with said insert section side walls and extending therebetween in horizontally spaced relation to said guide plate;

(b) wherein said insert section is provided with a pair of guide members secured to said guide plate and disposed in vertically extending spaced apart relation; and, i

(0) wherein said A-frame coupling further comprises a closure means removably secured to said guide members for reciprocal sliding movement thereon, said closure means comprising a face portion and a rear portion integrally formed with a pair of side walls and a roof wall, said rear face being provided with a pair of horizontally spaced apart vertically disposed notches therein, each of said notches engaging one of said guide members for maintaining said closure means in sliding engagement with said insert sect-ion.

(References on following page) Hansen 15323 X Brennan et a1. 15-49 X Nilsson 15323 X Jepson et a1 1550 M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner. CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, LOUIS J. DEMBO,

References Cited by the Examiner 2,854,686

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,946,071

7/1933 Clements. 3,102,292 1/1941 Home 15145 6/1952 Barnhart 15-41O X 1/1958 Benson et a1 15-410 X 2/1958 Eberhart 15410 Examiners. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A FLOOR TREATING APPARATUS HAVING A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED HANDLE SECURED THERETO, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: (A) SAID HANDLE INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO HANDLE SECTIONS ADAPTED TO BE COUPLED TOGETHER TO FROM SAID HANDLE AS AN A-FRAME, AND, (B) AN A-FRAME COUPLING CONNECTING SAID TWO HANDLE SECTIONS TOGETHER AS AN A-FRAME; (C) SAID COUPLING COMPRISING A BASE SECTION SECURED TO ONE OF SAID TWO HANDLE SECTIONS INDEPENDENT OF ANY CONNECTION WITH THE OTHER HANDLE SECTION AND A MATING INSERT SECTION SECURED TO THE OTHER OF SAID TWO HANDLE SECTIONS INDEPENDENT OF ANY CONNECTION WITH SAID ONE HANDLE SECTION; AND, (D) MEANS FOR REMOVABLY SECURING SAID BASE SECTION AND SAID MATING INSERT SECTION TO ONE ANOTHER. 